The Transfer Student

Wuling strolled toward the boys' dormitory in the east district. As soon as he opened the door to his room, he ran into Calcharo and Lingyang, who were about to head out.

"Rover, why are you back so late? It's only twenty minutes till ten. We were just about to go looking for you."

Calcharo held the dorm key in his hand, his jacket draped over his shoulder. Genuine concern showed on his face; he had clearly been ready to go out and search for Wuling.

Lingyang stood beside him, his expression composed as he looked at Wuling with a faintly questioning gaze.

Star Torch Academy enforced a strict nighttime curfew. After ten, access to the campus's main roads was restricted and the roads closed. Returning late was not only a hassle; the dorm supervisor would also record it. The two had worried that Wuling's part-time job had delayed him so long that he wouldn't make it back in time.

"It's fine. Don't worry."

Wuling closed the dorm door behind him, took off his jacket and draped it over the back of a chair, speaking casually.

"Finishing up the shift rotation took a little longer today, and I got held up for a bit on the way. I didn't notice the time."

Calcharo breathed a sigh of relief and tossed the key back onto the desk.

"You scared us to death. We thought you'd gotten lost."

Lingyang nodded slightly and added calmly, "Next time you're coming back late, send a message beforehand so we don't wait around for nothing."

"Got it."

Wuling answered with a smile.

The three sat down and naturally began chatting.

"By the way, Rover, have you checked the campus forum?"

"No. Why?"

"Open it and you'll see. Something big happened here while you were gone."

Calcharo's words piqued Wuling's interest, and he immediately took out his phone to look.

"Rich heiress enrolls at Star Torch Academy, the Motali Family's second young lady?"

Wuling read the post's title aloud under his breath and tapped into the pinned trending thread on the campus forum.

The post was extremely popular, with over ten thousand views in just a few hours and a dense stream of replies. At the top was a discreetly snapped photo of a girl in profile.

The girl wore a tailored pure white uniform and carried herself elegantly. Her features were noble and aloof, and she had a distant air that warned strangers to keep away.

The post itself laid everything out clearly: the second young lady of the Motali Family, a direct descendant of a top-tier wealthy family, had been admitted as an exceptional transfer student among this year's freshmen. She had always studied at private aristocratic schools before suddenly transferring to Star Torch Academy's Labelle Department this semester, where she would be assigned to a class alongside the other new students.

"See? A genuine heiress just dropped into your department."

Calcharo leaned over, his face full of amazement.

"A lot of the teachers were especially nervous today, and several luxury cars went back and forth at the academy gates. It was all because this big shot was enrolling."

Wuling scrolled quietly through the comments, the screen filled with students' amazement and curiosity.

Some had dug up her background: she was exceptionally gifted and had won countless awards at a young age, a true heaven's favored daughter. Others joked that the Labelle Department was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers this year, with remarkable talents concealed among the freshmen.

"Forget it. It's got nothing to do with us anyway."

Wuling closed the forum page, his tone indifferent. He had no interest in joining the excitement.

To him, her wealthy family background, her aura as a heaven's favored daughter, and the buzz throughout the academy were all just things for other people to talk about. They were too far removed from his life and meant nothing to him.

"That's true, but it's still absolutely mind-blowing."

Calcharo couldn't help clicking his tongue in amazement as he leaned back in his chair and stretched.

"That's the Motali Family. They and the Feisalie Family are the two richest families in Rinascita, and she's actually come to our school to join a freshman class. It's a total dimensionality-reduction strike."

"I heard she's really cold. She's been here a whole day, and nobody's dared to start a conversation with her. Even the homeroom teacher was very polite to her."

Wuling didn't say much more. He opened WeChat with a tap.

At the top of his chat list, the white seal profile picture kept vibrating.

Flying Snow Velvet: What happened with you and Chisaki on the way? Why did you get back so late? I asked her, but she didn't explain it very clearly.

Rover: Nothing much. We just happened to save four little lives.

Aimisi replied almost instantly, full of curiosity and surprise.

Flying Snow Velvet: Four little lives?? What happened? Chisaki came back and just lay quietly by the window, staring into space. She only shook her head whenever I asked her anything. I thought you'd bullied her.

Rover: Hey, hey, keep talking like that and I'll sue you for slander. You're slandering me.

Flying Snow Velvet: So what actually happened?

Rover: Nothing much. We just happened to save a few cats by the roadside after work. They looked like they were having a rough time, so I bought some food and blankets.

Flying Snow Velvet: No wonder she kept looking through stuff just now. She was thinking about the kittens.

Flying Snow Velvet: I knew my Chisaki was the softesthearted. Thanks for the effort, you two. I thought something had happened to you on the way.

Rover: Say things like that again and I'll spank you when the time comes.

Flying Snow Velvet: Really?

Rover: ?

Flying Snow Velvet: Hehe, I was kidding.

Flying Snow Velvet: By the way, you've seen that post on the forum, right? What do you think? Is your heart racing?

Although Aimisi hadn't said so outright, Wuling knew which post she meant.

Rover: Why would it be? She's pretty, but she's got nothing to do with me. Besides, I keep getting a strange feeling when I look at that photo.

Flying Snow Velvet: ? What strange feeling? Don't tell me it was love at first sight, big bro?

Rover: Get lost, get lost. What I mean is, when I look at the photo, I keep feeling like she might be a little... short?

Flying Snow Velvet: Damn, big bro, you've really got some nerve saying that.

Rover: Just an objective impression. She looks a little petite from the angle the photo was taken at. I didn't mean anything else.

Rover: Besides, no matter how beautiful or dazzling she is, she's still a stranger. She has nothing to do with the lives of ordinary people like us.

Flying Snow Velvet: Tsk, tsk. So pure-hearted and free of desire, huh?

Rover: Yeah, yeah, I get it. Anyway, no matter what, she's not as pretty as you, all right? Our Aimisi is the best.

On the other end, Aimisi was instantly overjoyed by his words and sent several jumping stickers in a row.

Flying Snow Velvet: Honestly, big bro, you're always telling such big truths.

Rover: All right, all right, it's getting late. Get some rest. I'll take a shower and turn in too.

Flying Snow Velvet: Okay, good night, big bro.

Rover: Good night, Aimisi.

After ending the conversation, Wuling put away his phone, got up, and took his toiletries into the bathroom.

After his shower, Wuling lay in bed, picked up his phone, and casually started scrolling through videos.

Outside, the night was thick as ink. Streetlights shone one after another along the campus's main roads, casting soft, scattered halos through the window screen. The evening breeze brushed gently through the treetops, bringing with it the quiet tenderness unique to a summer night.

Wuling swiped through short videos absentmindedly, the flickering light from the screen reflected in his eyes. But his finger moved more and more slowly, his thoughts having long since drifted away from the videos.

Scenes from that evening replayed uncontrollably in his mind.

Thinking of the three kittens, Wuling couldn't help feeling a little envious. At least someone was protecting them now, unlike him.

The dorm lights were soon dimmed, leaving only a faint night-light.

As the noise faded, the room fell completely silent.

In a secluded, empty alley, the properly adapted cardboard cat shelter kept out the chill night wind.

The blind mother cat with the broken leg lay curled up peacefully, holding her three young kittens close.

Their little chests rose and fell evenly, their faint, soft breaths mingling. In the darkness of the night, they held a tender, undying hope.